Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 20, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 50 2179 6474 Osprey 1 24 29 Bald Eagle 6 27 68 Northern Harrier 0 24 33 Sharp-shinned Hawk 10 558 658 Cooper's Hawk 3 34 104 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 8 355 Broad-winged Hawk 23 713 713 Red-tailed Hawk 16 179 449 Rough-legged Hawk 1 3 7 Golden Eagle 0 5 7 American Kestrel 1 23 32 Merlin 0 2 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 5 Unknown Accipitrine 1 1 7 Unknown Buteo 0 2 23 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 3 12 27 Total: 115 3798 8998 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Gianpiero Tondina, John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina, John Blanchard, John Niewiadomski, Susan Fraser Visitors: Gord and Pat from Oshawa, Joyce from Waterdown and Jane from Toronto all spent some time on the tower. Weather: Cold for the date with light to moderate winds from the north making it feel colder. Intermittent sun that was some relief. Clouds in immediate vicinity were mostly cirrus. Raptor Observations: Most interesting thing was that we had 23 Broad-wings and every one of them came as a single bird. There were never two BWs in view at once and we never had two on a similar flight path. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of Double-crested cormorants flying in many directions. One loon flyover. Pair of Towhees on the ground with lots of White-throated Sparrows and Juncos. Tufted Titmouse early in the am. Predictions: Predicted southerly winds should provide a good count although some afternoon precipitation may impair it. Warmer temps than today. I'll predict 450 raptors. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens (jrstevens@cogeco.ca) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://nphawkwatch.ca/ More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389 Site Description: Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All counting is done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For wind protection on cold days, particularly in March, a black plastic wind guard is installed around the tower's platform. This platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would be on it. The site lies within a publicly accessible property owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. Only the counter and designated spotters can drive into and park in the conservation area; there is a parking lot outside for visitors. The tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the outer edge. This provides lots of room to set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to display seven day's worth of observation data for the public. The box enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. ©2020 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, but visitors are asked to have their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!